Man charged with hitting federal officer with sedan during immigration arrest in National City

A man has been charged with assault after he allegedly struck and injured a federal officer with a vehicle during an immigration arrest in National City last week, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Roberto Carlos Galeana-Guatemala, 20, pleaded not guilty to multiple counts, including assault on a federal officer, attempted assault on a federal officer and being a deported alien found in the U.S., according to the complaint filed last week.

According to federal court documents, Galeana-Guatemala, a Mexican national, was wanted on a federal arrest warrant regarding his immigration status. Investigators said he had been previously removed from the country last year.

The complaint says that on Nov. 12, agents with the Homeland Security Task Force attempted to arrest him outside an apartment complex in National City around 4:25 a.m.

The officers tried to follow Galeana-Guatemala’s Honda Accord, but he used unspecified “counter surveillance” maneuvers, the complaint reads.

The agents reportedly caught up to Galeana-Guatemala near Coolidge Avenue and 15th Street. Federal agents pulled up in front of Galeana-Guatemala’s stopped car, front bumper to front bumper, in an unmarked vehicle.

According to the complaint, the agents yelled “Police!” as they exited their vehicle, and had identifying badges and patches. Galeana-Guatemala began driving his vehicle in reverse away from the agents, investigators said.

As other law enforcement vehicles arrived, Galeana-Guatemala then allegedly tried to maneuver around the agents, according to the complaint. He drove about 200 feet from the initial parked location before coming to a complete stop, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, agents approached the driver’s side window and shouted “Police, don’t move!” multiple times. Galeana-Guatemala momentarily paused before accelerating toward them, the complaint states.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations officer at the scene was unable to get out of the way of the sedan and was struck, authorities said. The sedan then struck a law enforcement vehicle, and Galeana-Guatemala ran away, the complaint says.

The officer was taken to a hospital after suffering contusions and a possible sternum fracture, investigators said.

A few hours later, he was found in an alley near another vehicle on Fairmount Avenue near Wightman Street and arrested after a brief foot chase, according to the complaint.

Staff writer Teri Figueroa contributed to this report.